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Resources by Topic: Hospice and palliative care

Engaging Patients and Families to Create a Feasible Clinical Trial Integrating Palliative and Heart Failure Care: Results of the Enable CHF-PC Pilot Clinical Trial
Presents the results of a study to determine the feasibility and site differences in an early palliative care (EPC) trial, the ENABLE CHF-PC (Educate, Nurture, Advise, Before Life Ends Comprehensive Heartcare for Patients and Caregivers). Participants were from rural and underserved areas with diverse socioeconomic and racial backgrounds. Sixty-one patients with advance heart failure and 48 caregivers participated in the program.
Author(s): Marie Bakitas, J. Nicholas Dionne-Odom, Salpy V. Pamboukian, et al.
Citation: BMC Palliative Care, 16(1), 45
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
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Rural-Urban Differences in Medicare Service Use in the Last Six Months of Life
Details a study on healthcare utilization by Medicare beneficiaries in the last six months of life in both urban and rural areas. Looks specifically at inpatient care, outpatient care, and home health, as well as other types of healthcare services.
Author(s): Elizabeth Crouch, Kevin J. Bennett, Janice C. Probst
Date: 08/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Minority Health Research Center (formerly the South Carolina Rural Health Research Center)
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The Financial Importance of Medicare Post-Acute and Hospice Care to Rural Hospitals
Findings brief describing variation in the number of hospitals in rural areas providing Medicare post-acute care (PAC) and hospice care, average amount of revenue generated for these services, and financial importance to rural hospitals. Includes statistics on 2015 Medicare PAC and hospice care revenue as percentage of patient revenue in 1,205 Critical Access Hospitals and 964 Prospective Payment System hospitals.
Author(s): Alex Schulte, H. Ann Howard, George H. Pink
Date: 07/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Rural Health Research Program
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Promising Practice: Advisory Group in Washington State Works to Bring Palliative Care to Rural Patients
Describes the Palliative Care Rural Health Integration Advisory Team (PC-RHIAT) initiated by the Washington State Office of Rural Health (WA SORH), which aims to bring palliative care to rural patients through the use of telehealth and community engagement. The WA SORH facilitates this process by bringing experts in palliative care, rural health and telehealth, together with hospitals, clinics, and community team members to develop an action plan based in the rural community and within their healthcare organizations.
Author(s): Beth Blevins
Date: 06/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
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LTSS Research: Hospice in Indian Country
Presents a literature review on the barriers to end-of-life care for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN), and provides recommendations to minimize these barriers. Discusses the cultural considerations of hospice and palliative care for AI/AN patients.
Date: 04/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2017
Provides an annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Includes discussions on Medicare payment policies that directly affect rural providers and beneficiaries. Analyses payment adequacy for home health, skilled nursing, long-term care hospitals, hospice, ambulatory surgical centers, and rehabilitation facilities.
Date: 03/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Third Annual Report: HCIA Disease-Specific Evaluation
Findings from the third year for 18 Health Care Innovation Awards Round One projects targeting patient populations with specific diseases. Provides information on program effectiveness based on Medicare and Medicaid claims data and awardee-collected data. Includes projects that serve a variety of rural areas and address conditions such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chronic pain. Approaches discussed include care coordination, education, and telehealth.
Additional links: Addendum, June 2017
Date: 02/2017
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, NORC at the University of Chicago
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A Community-Developed, Culturally-Based Palliative Care Program for African American and White Rural Elders with a Life-Limiting Illness: A Program By The Community for the Community
Describes the development of a culturally-based palliative care program in Beaufort, South Carolina. Discusses different preferences for care between African American and White focus group participants, such as the involvement of family members and the role of hospice and palliative care.
Author(s): Ronit Elk
Citation: Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics, 7(1), 36-40
Date: 2017
Type: Document
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Stratis Health Rural Palliative Care Impact Report
Report examines palliative care models that have proven to be effective in rural areas of Minnesota and establishes measures to understand ways in which palliative care offers value to patients and promotes community development.
Date: 07/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Stratis Health
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Dementia - Capable North Carolina: A Strategic Plan for Addressing Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
Presents results from the North Carolina Senate mandated Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias. Offers recommendations focused on improving statewide awareness and education about Alzheimer's disease and dementia, supporting people with dementia and their families, enhancing services for treatment of Alzheimer's disease and dementia including those in underserved areas, and improving data collection and research.
Date: 03/2016
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, North Carolina Institute of Medicine
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